Project Overview
Annual Reports
Information Products
Commodities
- Agronomic: teff
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage
- Crop Production: conservation tillage
- Education and Training: demonstration, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
- Farm Business Management: new enterprise development
- Natural Resources/Environment: carbon sequestration, biodiversity
- Pest Management: competition, cultural control, mulches - living
- Production Systems: holistic management
- Soil Management: organic matter
- Sustainable Communities: ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, new business opportunities, community services
Proposal abstract:
The problem requires conducting on station and on-farm research on teff for good yielding and adaptable varieties with appropriate management practices. This is very important as the management required to grow the crop varies with soil type and other physical conditions. In this on farm study, several varieties of teff will be evaluated for adaptation and yield in Oklahoma. Verities tested in other states such as Oregon, Washington and Idaho plus some new lines stored in US Germplasm Repository will be evaluated. Soil fertility, weed management, and cropping sequences need to be determined as part of the recommendation package. However, in this one year study fertility study will be considered. With simultaneous on-station trials from other funding sources we will identify appropriate weed management and cropping systems. This first phase will be followed by marketing and product development. In summary, we hypothesize that identifying well performing teff varieties with appropriate fertility package for Oklahoma will enhance farmer profitability and allow crop diversification in Oklahoma subsequently contributing to sustainability. We hypothesize that teff can be a substitute crop in water stress production systems and it is possible to reduce risk of farming by increasing crop options specifically since teff is a dual purpose crop and fast in growth and tolerant to moisture stress.
Project objectives from proposal:
The goal of this study is to add diversity of crops and create economic opportunities by adding teff in the cropping system for small farmers in Oklahoma and neighboring states. The specific objectives are to:
1. Evaluate the adaptation, suitability and grain and forage yield of teff varieties
2. Develop nutrient requirement of selected teff varieties and soils
3. Demonstrate varieties and management package to farmers